Transient drowns in Hermosa Beach motel hot tub; alcohol suspected

An apparently drunken transient fell into a hot tub and drowned Wednesday at a Hermosa Beach motel, police said.

The 43-year-old man was discovered at 7:45 a.m., face down and floating in the hot tub at the Quality Inn Hotel at 901 Aviation Blvd. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, Hermosa Beach police Sgt. Robert Higgins said.

Officers found empty alcohol containers, including a 1,500-milliliter bottle of vodka near his body.

Investigators believe the death was accidental.

The transient had numerous contacts with police officers and firefighters in Hermosa Beach, and had a history of alcohol and narcotics abuse, Higgins said.